Welcome to DMCToday.com: a Delorean discussion group. Everyone is welcome to join and participate in the discussion, whether you are a seasoned owner or someone just beginning to learn about Deloreans. This forum is all about sharing information and helping one another. There is only one basic rule for DMCToday which is, "Be nice." Enjoy the forum!

I'm right in the middle of fashioning a set of custom grips for my Spartan 1911. I put a lot of thought into these(and money) but I really have a vision that I want to see through. If they turn out like I hope, they will compliment the gun like they were made for it. Just got to go and find the right stain. I used curly maple for the grips and I will tell you why after they are finished.

Finally got the color right (Spartan Crimson Red). Lost a little of the figure but the "wrinkled fabric" was the look that I was trying to achieve. Still many more coats of clear and some painting to do.20180214_090707.jpg

Here they are after a second coat of clear. When dry it will be sanded, black accent edging added, and cleared twice more. Then it will be sanded slick and polished to a high shine.20180214_153710.jpg

These will tie the design together. I had 4 of these made by a jeweler in the UK and he did them in bronze(the material Spartans used to cover their shields). I think Sig Sauer really cheaped out with their grips for such a tribute weapon. I wanted to stray away from the comic book/300 movie references and really focus on the actual Spartan battle at Thermopylae. The Spartan shield is an integral aspect to the Spartan uniform, along with the Crimson red cloak(hence the color and wood choice of the grips). From everything I have read, the actual Spartan shields had the Lambda on the front, however some solders used their own designs, family crests, etc., but the accepted general design is the Lambda. These were 3d printed from bronze metal, so they are the most expensive part of this project. I have another set of wood grip blanks coming in so I will make an extra set in a slightly different design and sell the set I like the least. 20180214_142539.jpg

After multiple coats of polyurethane, the black fog effects were laid on with an airbrush and the entire grip got 2 coats of automotive clear with extra hardener added. All that's left is wetland and polish to a mirror finish and the shields added. Will try and finish them tonight after work.20180215_100945.jpg

Finished and couldn't be happier with the result! The grips were wetsanded with 1,500 grit paper and worked up to 12,000 grit paper. After, I polished with a 3 step compound system I use on my cars. The hardware installed and we are done. I am going to remove them tomorrow and sign the backside, then seal it. The finished grip now has the look of the Spartan Crimson red tunic along with the Shield and the gold accents I added to carry the theme of the "Molan Labe" gold inlay on the slide.

Rest assured, we have a backup of Farrar's car blog and it will be restored in the near future. (Steve Rice - March 2016)
Rest assured, we have a backup of Shep's posts and all of them will be restored in the near future. (Steve Rice - March 2017)